April 24, 2009
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - In a thrilling performance, the Villanova University men's track & field team won the DMR Championship of America at the Penn Relays on Friday, April 24. The Wildcats ran 9:30.81 to edge out Arkansas who clocked in 9:32.79. Texas took home third place honors in 9:34.90, while Providence (9:37.76) and Georgetown (9:37.98) were fourth and fifth respectively.
The victory was the Wildcats first Championship of America victory at the Penn Relays since 2001. It also represents the school's 90th all-time relay win at the Penn Relays, including the 23rd all-time victory in the DMR.
"I am probably more relieved than excited," said Villanova head coach Marcus O'Sullivan. "You have to be a Villanovan to truly understand what winning at the Penn Relays means. As a competitor, running here gave me the character to run professionally for 15 years. I have always compared the pressure and expectations here it to the World Championships and Olympic Games. I down played it during the week but I had a good feeling coming into the race. I knew we could run 9:30 or better. I just didn't know if it would be good enough."
Wildcat senior Sean Tully (Syosset, N.Y.) ran the leadoff 1,200 meter leg for Villanova and turned in a split of 2:56.7. Tully handed the baton off to fellow senior Elvis Lewis (West Hempstead, N.Y.) just five meters behind race leader Arkansas. Lewis tallied a time of 46.3 in the 400 meters and was just a split second off the lead when he gave the baton to sophomore Jason Apwah (Roxbury, N.J.).
Running in his first Penn Relays in a Wildcat uniform, Apwah gave the Wildcats a strong effort and ran his 800 meter leg in 1:49.4. Apwah gave the baton to Villanova sophomore anchor Matthew Gibney (Albury, Australia) just a few meters behind Razorback anchor Dorian Ulrey.
Gibney settled in just a few paces behind Ulrey and ran relaxed. After a non eventful 1,000 meters, Texas anchor Jake Morse came from way behind to grab a momentary lead. Gibney and Ulrey quickly responded to Morse's move and went back to the front of the pack.
With the Franklin Field crowd in a frenzy, Gibney and Ulrey were neck and neck with 150 meters to go when Gibney put on a championship kick and pulled away down the stretch. His 1,600 meter split of 3:58.4 was good enough to give the Wildcats the DMR championship.
"Once I started my kick I felt good. At that point you make your move and whatever happens happens. It was the first three laps that made me nervous," said Gibney. "I know what a big thing Penn Relays is for Villanova. I especially wanted to win for the seniors Sean (Tully) and Elvis (Lewis) who have come so close the last couple of years here. I am just happy for everybody at Villanova."
Gibney is a newcomer to the Villanova program having just enrolled on the Main Line in January. Despite having little knowledge of the Penn Relays, Gibney was well aware of the meet's expectations.
"Before I started getting recruited by Villanova I had never heard of the Penn Relays," said Gibney. "I realized what the Penn Relays meant during the recruiting process when Marcus said to me if you don't do anything else but give me a good mile at Penn I will be happy. The past few weeks all the guys on the team were trying to tell me what it was going to be like to run here."
Villanova returns to the track on Saturday on the final day of competition at the Penn Relays. The Wildcats are expected to run in the 4xMile at 1 p.m. and the 4x800m at 4:25 p.m.
